Hanging hook



Oct. 6, 1964 M. F. O'MEARA 3,151,831

HANGING HOOK Filed Sept. 13, 1963 INVENTOR.

J' ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,151,831 HANGING HOOK Martin F. OMeara, 540 West Ave., Miami Beach, Fla. Filed Sept. 13, 1963, Ser. No. 308,786 8 Claims. (Cl. 248-220) This invention relates to books for hanging articles, and in particular to a hook endowed with plural features of adaptation, and thus capable of accommodating a variety of articles, which end result constitutes one of the principal objects of the invention.

Another object is to provide a plural-use hanger which may be fabricated from a single piece of wire stock. Although wire hooks are well-known, and extensively employed, they provide only the single function of an upstanding hook, and therefore, many articles with specialized hanging problems require the installation of a variety of types of hangers for their handling.

More particularly, it is an object to provide a hanger which combines a simple hook junction, with spring-clasp type of holding features, as well as loop-type anchorages.

Yet another object is to provide a hanger which, in addition to, and simultaneously with, much of the foregoing, is also capable of serving as a beam support, as for a shelf or rod.

A still further object is to provide a plural-function hanger which is, itself, mountable whether by a screwtype terminus, or by a clasping action.

The objects also include the provision of a hanger which is relatively simple in structure, easy of manufacture, and low in cost, yet rugged and dependable in use.

These and other objects, which will be apparent, are attained by the present invention, a preferred form of which is described in the following specification, as illustrated in the drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a hanger constructed according to the invention, indicating in broken lines the structure to which it is attached, and certain articles which it carries in supported relationship,

FIGURE 2 is another elevational view of the hanger shown in FIGURE 1, in a dilferent working position, and showing a supported shelf, in broken lines, and

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the hanger in yet another position, and illustrating still further modes of use.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference there is shown the single-piece hanger, of round wire stock, comprising a main shank, or body portion, 1%, an outer hook portion 12, and a terminal, underslung, reentrant portion 14, having a spring-clasp function, among other things. Thus, the hanger is viewed as having three main parts, and these, which may also be viewed as two unequal arms, connected by a bight portion, will be described in somewhat more detail hereinafter.

The shank portion 16 is generally straight, with a strictly straight, medial portion 16, with a dog-leg bend 18 at its inner end, leading to a threaded, conical terminal portion 20, by means of which it may be anchored, as in a vertical wall 22, in FIGURE 1, or 24 in FIG- URE 2, or a horizontal wall 26 in FTGURE 3. Another dog-leg bend 28, at the outer end or straight section 16, leads to a V-form section 36, leading to the inner leg 32 of the U-form loop constituting the rounded hook portion 12. The outer leg of hook-loop 12 is part of an arcuate, or bight section 34, extending generally transversely of shank portion 16, and leading to the re-entrant portion 14, which, in normal, unstressed condition, is generally parallel to and somewhat shorter than shank 1'3, and substantially spaced therefrom.

Viewed generally, clasp portion 14 comprises two connected, and oppositely disposed, hairpin loops, with bight 3,151,831 Patented Get. 6, 1964 portions 36 and 38, the loops being defined by three, folded segments of the wire stock. The first segment, or nearmost to shank 10, leads from outer section 34 in a straight section 49, followed by a V section 42, with vertex directed toward shank it), and a following, straight section 44, connecting with bight 36. The second segment comprises a dog-leg bend, with three straight sections, 45, 46, and 48. The third segment is of general V-form, with two straight sections 50, 52, and a circular loop 54 on the terminal end of section 52.

It will be noted that the vertices at the inner ends of sections 4% and 48 constitute a point contact for the first hairpin loop, thus increasing the efiiciency of the gripping function, and, likewise, the vertices at the ends of sections 44 and 52 constitute a point contact for the outer, hairpin loop. Thus, these loops give a clamping grip, both internally and externally. Similarly, the ends of V-section 3% provide point contacts along the shank portion.

In its most usual mode of employment, the hanger is anchored in a wall or other equivalent structure, by means of the screw-threaded end 29. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the attachment is to a vertical wall, illustrating inverted positions of use of the hanger, and in PEG. 3 the attachment is to a horizontal member 26.

A plurality of functions within the hanger structure are also illustrated in the three figures. Thus, in FIG. 1, the outer, upturned loop-hook 12 is shown as holding a cap 56. The latter, as well as all other suspended articles shown, is indicated in dash lines. Also shown in FIG. 1 is a womans high-heeled shoe 58, with its heel portion in clamped engagement within the outer, hairpin loop, which includes bight38. Besides the improved clamping power of the V-fonn of the sides 50, 52, it will be seen that this form is well adapted for accommodating articles of various shapes, particularly the curved, heel portion shown. As a third variety of use, FIG. 1 also shows a rod to, such as used for mounting garment hangers, or other items, which is supported on two or more of the hangers, being located so as to dwell on the inside of the inner, hairpin loop, on straight section 40, thus being lodged outwardly beyond the constriction formed by bend 23 and the vertex of V section 42.

In all cases, it will be understood that the girth and physical properties of the hanger wire will be such as to be capable of intended functions, without undue bending or sag. However, minor degrees of fiexure are unobjectionable, and in particular, with a hanger constructed as shown, a downward bend or tilt of shank 10, under full loading, will be reasonably compensated by an additional downward tilt of clasp portion 14, flexing about the arcuate end portion 34, in the opposite, angular direction.

FIG. 2 is intended mainly to illustrate an unusual mode of employment for a hanger, in which a horizontal shelf 62 is carried on the shank portion 19, being clasped between the clamp portion 14 and the shank, and contained against outward movement by the arcuate, end section, or bight 34. It will be readily understood that the shelf is mounted by presenting it in a generally vertical position, to pass the outer edge 64 around the bight 35 of the inner, hairpin loop, after which it is slid outward, below the said loop until it assumes a horizontal position of dwell on the shank portion, as shown. In this position the loophook i2 is directed downwardly, and thus provides a ready anchorage for the hook 66 of a garment hanger. The end loop 54 on the outer hairpin loop is also useful in this regard, in some arrangements of the hanger and its manner of loading.

FIGURE 3 shows the hanger with the shank in a vertical position, in which case it may either be screwanchored in a supporting structure 26, or spring-clamped on a vertical member 63. In illustration of some of the varieties of use possible in this arrangement, the two hairpin loops are shown as holding a pair of shoes 7%, 72, in clamped engagement, one being inverted with respect to the other, in consequence of a similar arrangement in the clamp loops. It is worth noting that the vertex between sections St) and 52 of the outer hairpin loop provides a structure which prevents downward slipping of the shoe from its clamped engagement. In another mode of the use, the loop hook 12 is shown as anchoring an end of a line 74, such as a light-duty clothesline.

While a certain, preferred embodiment has been shown and described, various modifications will be apparent, in the light of this disclosure, and the invention should not, therefore, be deemed as limited, except insofar as shall appear from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A multipurpose hanger for articles comprising a generally U-form element of wire stock, with a long arm, a short arm, generally parallel to said long arm, and an arcuate, bight section connecting ends of said arms, said long arm being screw-threaded at its outer end, and saidshort arm comprising two, oppositely disposed hairpin loops.

2. A multi-purpose hanger for articles comprising a generally U-form element, of wire stock, with a long arm, a short arm, generally parallel to said long arm, and an arcuate, bight section connecting ends of said arms, said bight section including a looped portion extending transversely outwardly of said long arm.

3. A multi-purpose hanger for articles comprising a generally U-form element, of wire stock, with a long arm,

a short arm, generally parallel to said long arm, and an arcuate, bight section connecting ends of said arms, said bight section including a looped portion extending transversely outwardly of said long arm, said long arm being screw-threaded at its outer end.

4. A multi-purpose hanger for articles comprising a generally U-form element, of wire stock, with a long arm, a short arm, generally parallel to said long arm, and an arcuate, bight section connecting ends of said arms, said bight section including a looped portion extending transversely outwardly of said long arm, said long arm being screw-threaded at its outer end, and said short arm comprising two, oppositely disposed, hairpin loops.

5. A multi-purpose hanger for articles comprising a generally U- orm element, of wire stock, with a long arm, a short arm, generally parallel to said long arm, and an arcuate, bight section connecting ends of said arms, said bight section including a looped portion extending transversely outwardly of said long arm, said long arm being screw-threaded at its outer end, and said short arm comprising two, oppositely disposed, hairpin loops, the outer of said hairpin loops having a circular loop at its outer end.

6. A device as in claim 4, said long arm having bent portions providing minimized surface contact on the side facing said short arm.

7. A device as in claim 4, said loops comprising angularly disposed segments, providing minimized area contact, internally and externally.

8. A device as in claim 4, said long arm having laterally extending portions, providing minimized area contact on the side facing said short arm, and said loops comprising angularly disposed segments, providing minimized area contact, internally and externally.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,205,817 Kramb June 25, 1940 2,271,784 Tritt Feb. 3, 1942 2,990,150 Weigel et al June 27, 1961 

1. A MULTI-PURPOSE HANGER FOR ARTICLES COMPRISING A GENERALLY U-FORM ELEMENT OF WIRE STOCK, WITH A LONG ARM, A SHORT ARM, GENERALLY PARALLEL TO SAID LONG ARM, AND AN ARCUATE, BIGHT SECTION CONNECTING ENDS OF SAID ARMS, SAID LONG ARM BEING SCREW-THREADED AT ITS OUTER END, AND SAID SHORT ARM COMPRISING TWO, OPPOSITELY DISPOSED HAIRPIN LOOPS. 